Method for packaging articles in bubble wrap

ABSTRACT

A method for packaging articles ( 1 ) in blister packs (P) comprising an accommodating part ( 2 ) which accommodates the article ( 1 ) and, once the article ( 1 ) has been accommodated, is closed by a strip ( 5 ) of material, wherein the accommodating part ( 2 ) is adapted, at least in part, to the article ( 1 ) which is to be packaged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for packaging articles in blisterpacks comprising an accommodating part which accommodates the articleand, once the article has been accommodated, is closed by a tool stripand to an apparatus for this purpose.

The term blister, refers, in the packaging industry, to a usuallytransparent pack which serves for accommodating a multiplicity ofarticles. The so-called blistering of medicinal products is known inparticular. This involves tablet packs in which the tablets can bepushed through a rear wall made of aluminum. Nowadays, however, it isalso the case that any other desired articles, and in particular alsomedical implements are provided in blister packs.

For example DE 10 2010 032 944 A1 discloses a blister pack fortoothbrushes. First of all here blister cavities for accommodating thearticles are formed from a strip of plastics material, it being possiblefor this to take place, for example, by heating and a vacuum beingapplied. Once the article has been inserted, said blister cavities areclosed, or welded by an appropriate cover layer made of cardboard orplastic film.

In addition, DE 20 2006 004 323 U1 discloses a blister pack for contactlenses. Here too the blister pack comprises a blister shell and a coverfilm. The blister shell is produced in one piece, by thermoforming, froma strip of plastic film. It comprises an essentially planar main body,from which a cup and a recess are thermoformed. A fastening surface runsaround the cup, on the upper side of the planar main body. The coverfilm is connected to the blister shell in a sealing and manuallyreleasable manner along the encompassing fastening surface and enclosesthe contact lens and the liquid in a sterile state.

The problem nowadays, however, is that it is precisely in the medicalsector where blister packs have to meet ever more stringentrequirements. They have to consist of specific plastics materials whichmeet all hygiene-related requirements, and at the same time they have tobe easy to produce and use. On the other hand, the batch numbers ofindividual articles are decreasing all the time, and therefore amultiplicity of different blister packs have to be kept available forthe multiplicity of different articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is that of developing a method ofthe type mentioned above which makes it possible to provide extremelyhigh-quality blister packs in a cost-effective manner, since the samedesign of blister pack can be used for a multiplicity of articles.

The object is achieved in that the accommodating part is adapted, atleast in part, to the article which is to be packaged.

This basic concept of the present invention has the significantadvantage that there is now no longer any need for a dedicated blisterpack to be produced for each article which is to be packaged; rather,the same blister pack can be used for a multiplicity of articles, inaccordance with the three-dimensional configuration of the latter. Allthat is required is to make available certain graduations in size ofblister pack organized in terms of length, width and height of thearticles. A blister pack with a relatively large accommodating part canalways be used for a smaller article.

In a preferred embodiment of the method,

-   -   the accommodating part, together with the article therein, is        inserted into a tool and    -   the region of the accommodating part above the tool is heated,        whereupon,    -   in the region of the accommodating part around the article the        accommodating part is vented from the inside or is subjected to        pressure from the outside, and a space for the article therefore        forms in the accommodating part, and    -   said space for the article is then closed by the strip of        material.

This means that the accommodating part of the blister pack can maintainits actual shape, but can nevertheless be used for a multiplicity ofarticles. The encompassing frame can maintain its sharp edges, which arenecessary in order for the blister pack to be adjusted in automaticpackaging machines. As before, this frame continues to protect theproduct in the accommodating part. Overall, it is also the case that theaccommodating part remains stackable, since it comprises aframe-encompassed interior which, while being of any desired shape, isidentical to others. This means that these accommodating parts can alsobe stacked and transported easily to the filling machine. It is, ofcourse, possible for the inner accommodating space to be of any desiredgeometrical configuration. For a multiplicity of products, however, itis necessary to have only a small number of geometricalaccommodating-space configurations. This means that said accommodatingparts can be produced in very large quantities which significantlyreduces the cost of production. Of course, it is also thus possible, inturn, for higher-quality material to be used. Nevertheless, the methodremains cost-effective. Furthermore, it is, of course particularlyadvantageous that the article which is to be packaged is relativelysecure in the accommodating part, and this provides for protectedtransportation of the article.

An essential constituent part of the method according to the inventionis that only a sub-region of the accommodating part is heated. This isthe sub-region which should be located around the article which is to bepackaged. This is usually the base of the accommodating space, or alsojust a sub-region of said base. All this should be covered by theconcept of the invention.

Venting of the accommodating part has the advantage, over subjecting thelatter to pressure, of the operation being easier to control. Increasingthe vacuum makes it possible to determine whether sufficient venting hastaken place, and therefore the accommodating part has positioned itselffor the most part, or to the required extent, around the article.Subjecting the accommodating part to pressure from the outside in orderfor said accommodating part to be deformed around the article ispossible and conceivable and, in addition, has the advantage that theheated region of the accommodating part is cooled again. However, thishas to be controlled very precisely in order to preclude prematurecooling, as a result of which the article can be enclosed only in part,if at all. For this reason, the vacuum variant of the invention willprobably be preferred.

A further improvement of the method according to the invention residesin the fact that, prior to being heated, the accommodating part with thearticle inserted therein is closed by a sheet. Following heating, oronce the article has been enclosed, the accommodating part has to beclosed by the strip of material. For this purpose, it is usuallynecessary for the accommodating part, together with the article, to beremoved from the tool and rotated. There is a risk here of the articledropping out of the accommodating part. This is prevented by a sheetwhich has been inserted into, or placed on, the accommodating part. Itis possible for said sheet to be removed prior to closure by the stripof material or else also to be configured such that it remains in itsuse position.

As has just been mentioned, the accommodating part with the articleinserted therein is closed, in particular sealed, by a strip ofmaterial. The material of which said strip of material consists is oflittle importance. Preferred materials are plastic or cellulose films oraluminum foils.

The invention also covers an apparatus for implementing the methoddescribed above and comprising at least two tool parts which accommodatebetween them the accommodating part with the article inserted therein.The term tool part here can be interpreted very broadly. In oneexemplary embodiment in which the method according to the invention isoperated using a vacuum, said tool part has a heat dispenser forpartially heating the accommodating part above the article insertedtherein. The other tool part is assigned a vacuum device, to provide forevacuation of the space around the article inserted therein.

In the method according to the invention which operates using pressure,the accommodating part with the article inserted therein rests on a toolpart, of whatever kind, and is subjected to heat and, at the same time,pressure by the other tool part. A suitable compressed gas is used forthis purpose. It is of course, also conceivable, however to have otherpressure media or pressure generators, even mechanical pressuregenerators, such as appropriate rams or the like, which form theaccommodating part around the article which is to be removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can begathered from the following description of preferred exemplaryembodiments and with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a blister pack; and

FIGS. 2 a)-c) show schematic illustrations of the method according tothe invention for packaging articles in blister packs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an article 1, for example a pair of forceps, inserted intoa blister pack P. The blister pack P here forms, in an accommodatingpart 2, an accommodating space 3 which is intended for accommodating thearticle 1 and, in many cases, may be of transparent configuration. Saidaccommodating space 3 is surrounded by a periphery 4, which is of flatand usually rigid design.

In order to allow better handling of such blister packs P, the periphery4 requires, to a certain extent, sharp edges, so as to provide forautomated packaging control. Said frame 4 also protects the product inthe accommodating space 3. It should also be emphasized that suchaccommodating parts 2 are easily stackable

Once the article 1 has been inserted into the accommodating space 3 ofthe accommodating part 2 of the blister pack P, said accommodating space3 is closed, usually sealed, by a strip of material. A plastic film, analuminum foil or also cardboard is a recommended material to use for thestrip 5. This is of secondary importance to the invention.

The method according to the invention for packaging the article 1 in theblister pack P takes place as follows:

According to FIG. 2a ), the accommodating part 2 and the article 1 aretransferred together into a skin tool 6.1, 6.2. It is also the case herethat a sheet 7 is inserted between a lower tool part 6.2 and the article1, or the accommodating part 2, said sheet 7 merely having the task ofpreventing the article 1 from dropping out of the accommodating part 2when the accommodating part 2 is being removed from the tool once thearticle 1 has been inserted into the accommodating part 2.

It is also indicated that the lower tool part 6.2 has a venting bore 8,which is connected to a vacuum source (not shown specifically).

In the next method step according to FIG. 2b ), the upper tool part 6.1is moved toward the lower tool part 6.2 and, as indicated by arrows 9, abase 10 of the accommodating part 2 is subjected to heat. As a result,the accommodating part 2 is heated partially, that is to say only in theregion of the base 10 or only in a sub-region of the base 10, and thisallows said base to deform.

The accommodating space 3 is then evacuated through the venting bore 8as a result of the vacuum being applied, wherein the base 10 of theaccommodating part 2 deforms. It positions itself over the article 1 andencapsulates said article 1. So to speak, it replicates the article 1.

In a further method step, the tool 6.1, 6.2 is opened and theaccommodating part 2, as indicated in FIG. 2c ), is rotated. It is thenpossible for the sheet 7 to be removed or else to remain on theaccommodating part 2. The accommodating space 3 is then closed by thestrip 5 of material, said strip 5 of material being welded onto theframe 4 of the accommodating part 2. The article 1 is thus secured inthe accommodating space 3.

1. A method for packaging articles (1) in blister packs (P) comprisingan accommodating part (2) which accommodates the article (1) and, oncethe article (1) has been accommodated, is closed by a strip (5) ofmaterial, wherein the accommodating part (2) is adapted, at least inpart, to the article (1) which is to be packaged.
 2. The method asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating part (2), together withthe article (1) therein, is inserted into a tool, and the region of theaccommodating part (2) above the article (1) is heated, whereupon, inthe region of the accommodating part (2) around the article (1), theaccommodating part (2) is vented from the inside or subjected topressure from the outside, and a space for the article (1) thereforeforms in the accommodating part (2), and said space for the article (1)is then closed by the strip (5) of material.
 3. The method as claimed inclaim 2, wherein, as it is being inserted into the tool, theaccommodating part (2) has a sheet (7) placed beneath it or is retainedin the accommodating part (2) by a sheet (7).
 4. The method as claimedin claim 3, wherein the sheet used is a strip of polyurethane.
 5. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating part (2)consists of an at least partially heatable plastics material.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accommodating part (2) formsan accommodating space (3) for the article, which is encompassed by atleast one partial rigid frame (4).
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6,wherein it is only the base (10) of the accommodating space (3), or apart of the same above the article (1), which is deformed followingheating or once subjected to pressure.
 8. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the accommodating parts (2) are stacked.
 9. An apparatus forimplementing the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein two tool parts(6.1, 6.2) accommodate between them the accommodating part (2) with thearticle (1) inserted therein, wherein one tool part (6.1) has a heatdispenser, whereas the other tool part (6.2) is assigned a vacuumdevice.
 10. An apparatus for implementing the method as claimed in claim1, wherein two tool parts (6.1, 6.2) accommodate between them theaccommodating part (2) with the article (1) inserted therein wherein onetool part has a heat and pressure dispenser.